Bonham, Texas — A devastating incident on a frozen pond claimed the lives of three young brothers on January 26, 2026, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community. Despite their mother and a neighbor’s desperate attempts to save them, the boys succumbed to the icy waters.
The brothers, identified as 6-year-old Howard Doss, 8-year-old Kaleb Doss, and 9-year-old EJ Doss, fell into a private pond located just off Rec Road 3, around 60 miles northeast of Dallas. The pond, situated a mere 100 feet from their home, was a place their mother, Cheyenne Hangaman, had previously warned them to stay away from.
According to Hangaman, Howard was the first to break through the ice, prompting his older brothers to jump in after him. “It was a heartbreaking moment,” she recalled. “They just wanted to help each other.” In a tragic twist, as she attempted to rescue them, the ice began to fracture beneath her.
Hangaman, a mother of six, plunged into the frigid water. Her cries for help reached the ears of a neighbor who rushed to assist her. Unfortunately, her exposure to the cold caused her to go into shock, rendering her nearly helpless. “There were three of them and only one of me,” she said, reflecting on the horror of the situation.
Local community member John Ramsey, a football coach with the Bonham Independent School District, was nearby when he heard Hangaman’s desperate screams. He jumped in to help, citing the instinct to assist anyone in peril. Although he chose not to give further interviews, he conveyed the urgency of the moment and the unthinkable nature of the tragedy.
Rescue teams worked aggressively to retrieve the brothers from the pond, with the older two being brought to a hospital where they later passed away. Efforts to locate Howard were exhaustive but ultimately unsuccessful.
The Bonham Fire Department, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Game Wardens responded to the scene, embarking on a multi-agency recovery operation. In a letter to families, Lance Hamlin, superintendent of the Bonham Independent School District, addressed the heartbreaking event, ensuring that counseling services would be available for students and staff impacted by the boys’ deaths.
This incident has raised concerns regarding winter safety, particularly in regions like North Texas that are seldom exposed to extreme cold. Frozen ponds may appear deceptively stable; however, variations in water depth and temperature can create dangerous conditions.
Safety experts emphasize that at least four inches of solid ice is necessary to support an average person. When someone falls through, the body’s immediate cold shock response complicates rescue efforts, often leading to panic and rapid heat loss. Untrained individuals attempting rescues face the same perils as the victim, further complicating the situation.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist the family with funeral expenses, expressing the community’s outpouring of support. Edward Doss, the boys’ father, shared his grief with reporters, reflecting on the profound loss of his sons.
As Texas grapples with winter weather unprecedented for many residents, this heartbreaking episode has become a call to action for increased awareness around safety on frozen bodies of water, particularly in regions unaccustomed to such conditions. Community leaders stress the importance of educating families about the dangers these hazards can present, aiming to prevent future tragedies.